2. Contact Info

3. Dealer Selection

The manifold and growing number of Mini variants will grow by one next year with the addition of the Clubvan to the U.S. lineup. Based on the Clubman extended-length model, the Clubvan forsakes the Clubman’s rear seats and side windows for a carpeted cargo area. Mini is targeting boutique commercial users such as fashion designers, caterers, photographers and architects with the Clubvan. The Clubvan is considered a modern-day interpretation of the classic Morris Mini Van.

Its 30.3 cubic-foot cargo area is modest, and slightly more than half the cargo area offered by the recently-discontinued Chevrolet HHR Panel model, which had 57 cubic feet. In Europe, its closest competitor size-wise would be the Ford Fiesta Van variant, essentially a two-door Fiesta with blanked-out side windows and no rear seat. The Fiesta Van offers a slightly larger 35 cubic foot cargo area. Compared to Ford‘s box-shaped urban van, the Transit Connect, the Clubvan’s cargo area is a mere fourth of the TC’s cavernous 129.6 cubic-foot capacity. However, the Clubvan fares slightly better in the payload department, with an 816 pound capacity, about half the Transit Connect’s 1600, and close to the HHR Panel’s 900 pound capacity.

Clearly, the Clubvan is not about pure utilitarian practicality, and its available options reflect its trendy urbanite support role. Cloth seating surfaces are standard, but leather is available as an option, as is a navigation system, HID headlights, adaptive headlights, automatic climate control, and park distance control. The only available engine in the U.S. will be the Cooper’s naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter, 121 hp four-cylinder engine. European models are also available with the 1.4-liter gas engine from the Mini One model, or a diesel from the D model. The U.S. Clubvan will be available with a standard six-speed manual or optional automatic transmission.

Pricing will be announced closer to the Clubvan’s Fall 2012 on-sale date.

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